What is Histrionic Personality Disorder?
Histrionic personality disorder (HPD) is a mental condition characterized by patterns of attention seeking and over-emotional reactions and needing approval. It is a Cluster B personality disorder characterized by dramatically, unpredictably, emotionally intense behaviors. People with histrionic personality disorder often feel the need to be noticed and will occasionally act in ways that may be seen as overly seductive or dramatic to get noticed.
What causes the exact histrionic personality disorder similar to that is not yet known, but genetic and environmental factors are thought to be involved. Early childhood experiences, include excessive reinforcement of attention-seeking behavior as well as inconsistent parenting to some degree, may contribute to HPD.
Histrionic Personality Disorder: Signs and Symptoms
Understanding the signs and symptoms of histrionic personality disorder can teach us how to know if we need professional help. Some common signs include:
Excessive attention-seeking behavior: A person with HPD usually feels uncomfortable if he or she is not central to attention.
Inappropriate seductiveness: To get the approval of others, they may engage in sexually provocative or flirtatious behaviour.
Emotional instability: Shallow, or over expressed, rapid shifts in the emotions.
Theatrical expression: Grandiose gestures and dramatic speech in frequent use.
Over-concern with appearance: Tending to emphasise the physical attractiveness to an extreme level, and dressing to try and grab attention.
Easily influenced by others: The latest interaction or situation helps to shape opinions and feelings.
Perceiving relationships as more intimate than they are: A disposition to see casual acquaintances as close friendships.
They seldom represent normal behavior and usually cause problems in interpersonal relationships or the ability to function daily. Suppose you notice these patterns in yourself or someone you love. In that case, you might want to continue reading and to consider performing a histrionic personality disorder test to decide if professional treatment is needed.
What Treatment is Available for Histrionic Personality Disorder?
Treatments of histrionic personality disorder aim at controlling signs and enhancing the standard of life. HPD cannot be cured but people can learn coping strategies, and healthy ways of relating to others.
One of the best ways on how to treat histrionic personality disorder is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). In CBT, people learn to recognize their poor thinking patterns, and to change them with more positive behaviors. This therapy emphasizes:
- Gaining self-awareness on what could be behind an attention-seeking action
- Practicing healthier, safer coping strategies for dealing with feelings and being stressed out.
- Improving relationships through learning social skills.
Besides, psychodynamic therapy, group therapy may also be helpful. Psychodynamic therapy explores your unconscious thoughts that control your behavior while group therapy helps you find comfort sharing with peers and practice new skills in your life style.
Histrionic personality disorder medication may be prescribed in some cases to treat co occurring conditions, such as anxiety or depression. Common medications include:
Antidepressants: To combat mood disorders, and depressive symptoms.
Anti-anxiety medications: To minimize stress and minimize anxiety.
Mood stabilizers: When mood swings are dominant.
Treatment involves medications with psychotherapy to improve outcome. But medication alone isn’t considered a total cure for HPD.
Benefits of Treatment
This type of personality disorder (histrionic personality disorder, or HPD) can be difficult, but it also has strengths — which in some cases may be treated as benefits — that can be employed in certain circumstances. Such positive traits are recognised to help self awareness and growth. Here are some potential benefits:
High Energy and Enthusiasm:
This is normal because people with HPD can be a vibrant and energetic, engaging and entertaining person when social. Charisma is an asset that they can use to their advantage in jobs where it’s important, such as acting, sales or public speaking.
Strong Interpersonal Skills:
They are very connected to social dynamics and very naturally inclined to seek attention and approval. A lot of people with HPD can pick up on what is going on with people around them and respond socially in ways that the people around them will like.
Creativity and Expressiveness:
Highly persuasive individuals tend to be emotional, and by being so, foster creativity and artistic talent. Those with flair for drama often find successes in any area where creativity is required, from writing to performing arts, to design.
Resilience and Adaptability:
People with HPD tend to be resilient, though emotional highs and lows. The flexibility of these people is such that they can easily overcome the change of circumstances and social environment.
Charming and Engaging Personality:
They often tend to keep themselves engaged and maintain a presence, being charismatic and personable as a result; qualities that help you build networks, and keep professional and personal relationships.
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